Apparatus for setting up folding cartons and the like



Jan. 1.3, 1,953V l A. J. wElss 2,625,084

vAPPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDING cARToNs AND THE Lm; Filed haben 2.1'949 2 SHEETS-SHEET r1 vll/,111" 'Illlllllf/L F" 1 INVEN-roR ARTHUR I WISS BY f - ATT NEY Patented `lan. 13, 1953 APPARATUS FOR SETTING UPFOLDING CARTONS AND THE LIKE Arthur J. Weiss, West Englewood, N. J.,assignor to Robert Gair Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporationof Delaware Application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,286

The invention relates to apparatus for setting up folding cartons andthe like.

Folding cartons of the kind commonly known in the paperboard cartontrade as the simplex type have side walls with end extensions attachedto the end walls. These end extensions have diagonal score lines,usually pre-broken for ease of folding during the operation of settingup the folded carton. In the fiat folded carton the end walls are notfolded, but are coplanar with the bottom. The side walls and side wallextensions are inwardly folded, flat against the bottom, the side wallextensions being integral with the side edges of the end walls. Thediagonal score lines of the side wall extensions proceed from thecorners of the bottom, defining in each extension two approximatelytriangular' panels. As the carton is set up, substantially simultaneouserection of the side and end walls brings these triangular panels intosuperimposed carton, diiiiculty is frequently experienced by reason ofthe necessity for erecting the side and end Walls substantially at oneand the same time. This is particularly true when setting up the cartonby hand. Experienced operators can do it all right, but it is a trickymanipulation and when it comes to setting up the larger sizes of cartonssuch as shirt boxes and other long boxes the diculties are increased.This is particularly so when the girls who do this work have small handsand cannot reach the side wall panels with their thumbs at thesame timethat they are pulling in on the end walls with their fingers as isnecessary with simultaneous erection'of the four walls. In such a case,one end of the folded carton must be held against the operators body,the side walls then being raised slightly while the other end is raised,the hands then being shifted quickly to complete the infolding of firstone end and then the other. This takes more time because it increasesthe number of steps in the operation, and the manipula#manual'operation, but holds the carton in such 4 Claims. (Cl. 93-53) amanner that by a diiferent and simpler manipulation even the largestcartons can set up rapidly and easily by almost anyone'and with scarcelyany preliminary training. My apparatus holds the ends of the cartonraised into a slightly inclined position, i. e. the ends are sprungupwardly, and are so held while the operator performs the first part ofthe operation of erecting the side walls of the carton. Both hands arefree for lifting the side walls to partly erected position. Because ofthe inward compressing action of my apparatus the side walls snap intothis partly erected position and remain that way without furtherattention on the part of the operator'. This again leaves both handsfree, and the fingers or palms of the hands are pressed against theinclined ends of the carton to bring them fully erect while at the sametime the infolding end flaps are pushed with the thumbs and the handsslipped inside the erected carton to snug these iiaps into their finallocking position.

My apparatus, in its general arrangement, comprises spaced ngers andsupporting arms arranged to cradle the folded carton, the fingers beingarranged to be brought into a position suchthat they are spaced apart bya distance. less than what would be the length of the folded carton ifit were lying flat, i. e. by a distance less. than the length of theflat-folded carton when perfectly iiat. This arrangement provides acradle for the folded carton, or for a stack of folded cartons, having asubstantially fiat central portion and inclined ends with verticalretaining iingers or brackets on the inclined ends adaptedto hold thefolded cartons with their ends sprung upwardly.

In order to assist others in practicing my invention and in obtainingits fullest advantages, I shall here describe what I now consider to beits best embodiment. In the drawings, which illustrate this embodiment:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus, partly broken awayin vertical cross section, with a folding carton in place and ready forsetting up.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, but with the carton removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view. taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 1, but with the carton removed.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views illustrating the operation ofsetting up one form of car- `ton* with use ofthe apparatus shown inFigs. l3.' v Y Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the preferred form ofapparatus will be seen to comprise two pairs of opposed brackets Imounted on a base or table 8. These brackets have portions 9 inclinedoutwardly and upwardly. Mounted on the inclined portions of the brackets1 are retaining brackets III carrying vertically arranged fingers IIwith opposed serrated surfaces I2 for engagement with the respectiveends of a folded carton C, or a series or stack of such cartons. Theconstruction described forms a cradle having a substantially flatcentral portion and inclined ends with vertical retaining brackets onthe inclined ends adapted to hold a stack of molded paper boardl cartonsor the like with their ends sprung upwardly. Y

I prefer to have at least one of the sets of brackets 'I (i. e., atleast one of the brackets' of' each pair) adjustable to permit variationof the distance between the ngers I I of each pair. Also I prefer tohave thek brackets I adjustable. Thesev adjustments. allow theadaptation. of. the device for use with cartons of. different sizes andproportions, although ofcourse no adjustment need be provi'ded'ifthedevice-is to be used exclusively in setting` up just one size and designof carton. In general,I the ad'iustmentwill'be such that' thefl'atcentral portion ofthe'cradl'e Will'be substantially equal in lengthto the' length of the bottom of the carton, and the distance from thengers I I to the point where the inclined ends of the cradle adjoin itsflat central portion will be substantially equal to the height of thecarton ends.

In the preferred' apparatus shown, these adjustments are providedin themanner now tov be` described. Base 8 hasa pair of channels 'I3' in its`upper surface, the width' of' these channels being about equal to thewidth of bracketsl 1, and their'depth about equal to thethickness of thebrackets so the brackets will4 be slidably received in the channelsandbe flush with the'base. Slots I4 in the base 8, in line with channelsAI3, accommodatev clamping; screws I5 whichY cooperate-with-thehorizontal portion of eachfbracket-'I and a clamping plate I6 in holdingthe bracket in itsselected position of adjustment. Clamping plates I6are slidably carried in channels If!` irr the undersideof the base 8paralleling channels I3. When the screws I5- are loosened?, the

brackets I and' plates I6 can be.V moved alongk their respectivechannels to adjust the distancebetween the brackets of each pair to aposition in which the fiat central portionv of the cradle will besubstantially equal to the length of'the l bottom of the cartonV C.`

The inclined portion 9 of. each bracket l" is'v slotted as at I8 toreceive a, threaded stud I9 mounted on the bracket I0. A wing nut servesto clamp bracket I0 in its selected position of adjustment, such thatthe distance fromrfinger II' to the pointwherethe inclined Vend of thecradlel adjoins its flat central portion' will be. substan-V tiallyequal to the heightY of the ends of the carton C.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I-have illustrated'th'e opera; tion of setting upone form of carton with the useof my apparatus; For simplicity ofYillustration, the apparatus itself is not shown infthese views, but itwill be understoodrthat the carton is resting in the cradle. In Fig. 4,thefca'rtonis considered as being held betweentheserrationsv I2offingers I I exactly as shown in Fig: 1. Carton C which I have selectedfor. illustration,.is of theklnd commonlyknown-in the paperboard car-Vton business as the simplex type. WhileI 4 refer to this as a carton, ithas a construction which also may be used, and frequently is used, as a,cover for a carton. Also it may be put to other uses such as displaybaskets, etc. For simplicity, I will continue the description byreference merely to a carton or carton and the like.

A carton of the particular@ type here illustrated has a bottom panelwith adjoining side walls 2|, end walls 22 and infolding end wallextensions 23. Side wall extensions 24 are integral with both side andend walls, adjoining the side walls 2| at fold lines 25 and the sideedges of the end Awalls 22 at fold lines 26. Fold lines 26` are inlinelwith the fold line between the sidewalls and the bottom of the carton.End extensions 24 have diagonal score lines 21, usually pre-broken" forease of folding during the operation of setting up the carton. In theflat folded carton the end walls are not folded but are coplanar withthe bottom. The vside walls and side wall extensions are inwardlyfol'dd. at against the bottom, substantially as'shown in Fig'. 4, exceptthat the en'ds of the cartn' lie Y down flat instead of` being' sprung.upwardly in the cradled position shown. The diagonal' score' lines 2'1'of the sidewall extensions proceed fro'i the' corners of they bottom).defining in e'achex'- tension two approximately triangularpan'els 28 and29. As the carton is set up', substantially simultaneous erection of theside and end' walls' brings these triangular panels into superimposedrelationship, and ther infolding end flaps 23 are snugged down insidethe carton to-hold it in its erected form. These naps 23 may haveextensions 24 which assist in holding them" in their locking position.

When a carton of this general typeA is to' be set up with the'use of myapparatus, itis dropped into the cradle so thatits ends are raised to'an inclined position asshown inl Figs. 1 andV 4, and are held in thatposition during the rst part of the operation of erecting the side wallsof the carton. riChat is, the ends of thev carton are sprung upwardly byreason o'f the compressing action exerted by the fingers-I I.

In the preferred embodiment of myV apparatusas illustrated, a series or'st'ackWof folded cartons C can be accommodated: inthe cradle at thesame time. I prefer to handle aboutv six cartons at a time, and' in thisc'a'se theoperator will take the-six cartonsY and' drop vth'ern into thecradle from the-top'. As thel'rca'rtons drop into First the side Walls'2I` are raised slightly'until they snap into the partlyerected'posit'ion'shown Note that the operator lia'sboth"hands`- in 5.free'for this step in the operation. Because. of

the'inward compressingjaction ofthe n'gersl II'.v the 4sidewalls EI willremain in the partly'erectedy position of Fig. w'ithout furtherattention on the part of-theroperator.v This againleaves'both` handsfree, and the-iingersor'palrnsofz the'hands' are pressed against theinclinedA en`ds26 'off the carton to raisethem in the' direction".`indicated by the arrows 3U (lCig.v 5)' a'n'dbring thernfullyerect,.whileat the sameA time the' infolding end flaps23 are pushed withthe thumbsfin thef dlrection indicated by thefa'rrows' 3|. (Fig.6`),.andv

the hands slipped insidetheerected' cartonto snug. these aps intotheirv` lockingV position;-

The last part of this operation is illustrated in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the apparatusdoes not take the place of the operation as previously performed byhand, but holds the carton in such a manner that by a different andsimpler manipulation even the largest of cartons can be Set up rapidlyand easily and with very little preliminary instruction.

The term carton and the expression carton and the like as used hereinand in the appended claims are intended to include both carton bodiesand carton covers, having in mind that both bodies and covers may be ofsimilar construction and that the apparatus herein disclosed is usefuland advantageous in setting up both bodies and covers. Also, I includewithin this denition other types of folding paperboard articles such asdisplay baskets, display stands, f

etc., for the invention relates to the apparatus, and it will beappreciated that this apparatus is useful in setting up foldingpaperboard articles of any type in which the setting up operation isfacilitated by springing up the ends of the folded article and holdingthem so during a subsequent step or manipulation affecting otherelements of the article being operated on. All of the terms andexpressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not alimiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents ofthe invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within thepurview of the claims.

I claim:

l. A cradle for setting up folding cartons and the like, comprising abase member, pairs of opposed brackets mounted on said base member, saidbrackets having portions inclined outwardly and upwardly, and fingersmounted to be clamped in fixed operating position on said in clinedportions of the brackets for engagement with the respective ends of thefolding carton.

2. A cradle as defined by claim 1 in which said fingers have verticallyarranged serrated fingers to permit a stack of folded cartons to bedropped between them in superimposed relationship with the serratedsurfaces in engagement with the respective ends of the cartons in thestack.

3. A cradle for setting up folding cartons and the like, comprising abase member, opposed brackets mounted on said base member, said bracketshaving portions inclined outwardly and upwardly, and fingers mounted tobe clamped in fixed operating position on said inclined portions of thebrackets for engagement with the respective ends of the folding carton.

4. A cradle as defined by claim 3 in which said fingers have verticallyarranged serrated fingers to permit a stack of folded cartons to bedropped between them in superimposed relationship with the serratedsurfaces in engagement with the respective ends of the cartons in thestack.

ARTHUR J. WEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,486,074 Spinale Oct. 25, 19492,516,624 Guyer July 25, 1950

